2002 Aston Martin Vanquish

The ultimate Grand Tourer.

As enthusiasts, we marvel at the history, the styling, the machinery and the technology that are infused into a performance car's DNA. However, what ultimately wins our affection is the thrilling driving experience that stimulates our human senses: an engine's bold and authoritative bark and a well-balanced, confidence-inspiring chassis.

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In the world of $100,000-plus automobiles, most car manufacturers focus on what they do best. Climb aboard a and you immediately recognize its purpose: to speed through a corner with utmost grip and confidence. The BMW Z8 and and SL are Teutonic engineering masterpieces. The road presence is intimidating and various tempt with beautiful styling and race-bred engines.

Steeped in history, Aston Martin has the rich racing heritage and reputation for handcrafting high-performance sports cars. Now adding to that impressive résumé is the 2002 Vanquish. It is the ultimate Gran Turismo that not only delivers top-notch styling, performance and luxury, but most important, an exhilarating driving experience that excites our senses of sight, sound, smell and touch, all at the same time.

Inspired by the Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato, designer Ian Callum has taken the elegant and classic lines of the past and penned a bold and chiseled look for the Vanquish. Up front, a large, signature Aston Martin grille is incorporated into the single-piece bumper. Below it are two auxiliary driving lights/turn indicators and an air intake. A pair of two-projector headlamps confidently focus on the road ahead. Just behind them is a wide, upward-sloping bonnet interrupted by a center hump that's flanked by a pair of engine-bay cooling vents.

In profile, the long hood complements the steeply raked windshield. The elegant roofline picks up where the windshield leaves off and gradually finishes at the rear with a gentle lip acting as a spoiler. Aft of the large front wheel well is a side air vent that blends nicely into the door panel highlighted by slender chrome trim. And with the cockpit's narrow greenhouse design, Callum is able to sculpt a tall beltline that balances nicely with the forceful and broad contours of the rear fenders. Around the back, large taillights smoothly merge into the bumper, with a pair of tailpipes sandwiching a functional lower-body diffuser. A quick look underneath the car reveals the Aston Martin's aerodynamically efficient flat underbody design.

Open the door to see the high-tech interior styling and smell the traditional rich aroma of Connolly hides. Abundant leather wraps around the entire cockpit and is carefully stitched into the Alcantara-quilted seats. A suede headliner and more than 129 sq. ft. of Wilton carpet complete the interior furnishings. The aluminum door handles and the engraved "Aston Martin" aluminum doorsill trim pieces are modern design cues. At the center, the sculpted console begins at the base of the windshield, then flows smoothly down to the center armrest outlined by a pair of brushed-aluminum struts. On the console are buttons for the engine start (in red), reverse, traction control and Sport mode (allowing the engine revs to reach redline before upshifting in Automatic mode). A minor gripe: the door handles, window switches, climate and sound system controls are taken directly out of Ford's Jaguar parts bin.

Slide into the driver's seat. From the supportive side bolsters hugging you in place and the sight and the smell of the cockpit, to your fingers wrapping around the padded leather steering wheel, everything conveys sportiness and luxury. The aluminum paddle shifters (upshift on the right and downshift on the left) are accented by more strips of leather. On the instrument panel, a small round display indicating the current gear selection separates the ivory-faced, chrome-ringed 7500-rpm tach and the 210-mph speedometer. Fuel level and coolant temperature gauges can also be found and monitored inside the binnacle. Surprisingly, the low-profile roofline does not translate to a lack of head room inside the Vanquish. In fact, our over-6-foot staffers find the Aston Martin to be very roomy. However, we all agree that the two rear seats are purely for looks.

Insert the key and turn on the ignition. Pull both paddle shifters back, and the Magneti-Marelli 6-speed manual transmission goes into Neutral. Push the starter button and the 5.9-liter V-12 quietly comes to life. At idle, this dohc powerplant is docile compared with most other super-performance sports cars. A quick pull on the right paddle shifter puts the car into 1st gear. Stomp on the gas pedal. The electronic drive-by-wire throttle immediately snaps open, releasing the might of all 12 pistons. Delivery of 460 bhp and 400 lb.-ft. of torque is linear and buttery-smooth, and the accompanying engine growl is simply mesmerizing. The rumble through the twin exhaust resonates in the cabin and it ensures that occupants can hear and feel the car's awesome power.